Sci-fi writer Clarke buried in secular funeral

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka Clarke was buried in a brief, secular funeral according to his
wishes at the general cemetery in Colombo, the capital of his
adopted country, Sri Lanka.
into the grave.

The Ekanayake family, with whom the British author lived in the
final decades of his life, cried as his coffin was lowered into the
grave. His brother, Fred Clarke, and other family members were
among the mourners. Some fans and followers also sprinkled soil
into the grave.

Music from the 1968 movie "2001: A Space Odyssey" was played
at the funeral and at Clarke's home before the ceremony. Clarke
co-wrote the film's original screenplay with director Stanley
Kubrick.

Tamara Ekanayake, the daughter of Clarke's business partner and
longtime friend Hector Ekanayake, made a brief speech at their home
before the funeral procession began. She said Clarke's gravestone
would be engraved according to his wishes: "Here lies Arthur C.
Clarke. He never grew up and did not stop growing."

Born in western England on Dec. 16, 1917, Clarke earlier served
in the Royal Air Force during World War II before moving to Sri
Lanka in 1956.

He died Wednesday in a Colombo hospital after suffering
breathing problems at age 90.